Plants, BLU-CAL
Life on Earth owes much to plants. The vast majority of plants carry out photosynthesis to transform light energy into chemical energy, which is the way that virtually all energy in the biosphere becomes available to living things (including us humans). Plants occupy the base of Earth's food webs and are consumed directly or indirectly by all higher life-forms, thereby functioning as the major source of food for humans and other animals. Plants' photosynthetic activity also produces the air that we breathe: almost all the oxygen in the atmosphere is due to the process of photosynthesis. Still not convinced about the merits of plants? Consider the fact that many plants not only serve up crucial nutrients and breathable air but also look good doing it. Many plants are admired for their striking aesthetic qualities, and flowers such as tulips, lilies, sunflowers, and daisies beautify fields, gardens, windowsills, and bouquets the world over. Plants are also a primary source of consumer goods, such as building materials, textile fibers, and pharmaceuticals.
Plants Encyclopedia Articles By Title
blueberry, any of several North American shrubs of the genus Vaccinium (family Ericaceae), prized for their sweet......
bluebonnet, any of several North American lupines (Lupinus) of the pea family (Fabaceae). The most famous bluebonnets......
bluegrass, (genus Poa), in botany, the largest genus in the grass family (Poaceae), comprising more than 500 species.......
bluestem, (genus Andropogon), genus of approximately 100 species of grasses in the family Poaceae. Bluestems are......
Hieronymus Bock German priest, physician, and botanist who helped lead the transition from the philological scholasticism......
bog rosemary, (Andromeda polifolia), low evergreen shrub of the heath family (Ericaceae). The plant is native to......
bok choy, (Brassica rapa), member of the mustard family (Brassicaceae) that is a variety (chinensis) of Brassica......
Bombacaceae, the bombax or kapok family of flowering trees and shrubs, in the mallow order (Malvales), comprising......
boneset, (Eupatorium perfoliatum), North American plant in the aster family (Asteraceae). The plant is sometimes......
bonsai, living dwarf tree or trees or the art of training and growing them in containers. Bonsai specimens are......
boojum tree, (Fouquieria columnaris), unusual flowering tree (family Fouquieriaceae) endemic to the deserts of......
borage, (Borago officinalis), an edible and ornamental plant with loose drooping clusters of starlike bright blue......
Boraginaceae, borage or forget-me-not family of flowering plants, with 148 genera and more than 2,700 species.......
Norman Ernest Borlaug American agricultural scientist, plant pathologist, and winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace......
Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian plant physiologist and physicist whose invention of highly sensitive instruments......
Boston ivy, (Parthenocissus tricuspidata), clinging woody vine of the grape family (Vitaceae). Native to eastern......
botany, branch of biology that deals with the study of plants, including their structure, properties, and biochemical......
bottle gourd, (Lagenaria siceraria), running or climbing vine of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), native to tropical......
bottle tree, any of various trees of the genus Brachychiton, in the hibiscus, or mallow, family (Malvaceae), with......
bougainvillea, (genus Bougainvillea), genus of about 18 species of shrubs, vines, or small trees, belonging to......
bouvardia, (genus Bouvardia), any of about 30 species of evergreen shrubs or herbs of the family Rubiaceae, mostly......
Bowenia, genus of two species of palmlike cycads in the family Stangeriaceae, endemic to Queensland, Australia.......
box, In botany, an evergreen shrub or small tree (genus Buxus) of the box family (Buxaceae), best known for the......
box elder, (Acer negundo), hardy and fast-growing tree, of the soapberry family (Sapindaceae), native to the central......
boxwood, (family Buxaceae), any of the plants in the family Buxaceae (order Buxales), best known for the ornamental......
boysenberry, a very large bramble fruit, considered to be a variety of blackberry (Rubus ursinus). Possibly a cross......
bracken, (Pteridium aquilinum), widely distributed fern (family Dennstaedtiaceae), found throughout the world in......
bramble, (genus Rubus), large genus of flowering plants in the rose family (Rosaceae), consisting of usually prickly......
brassica, (genus Brassica), genus of 37 species of flowering plants in the mustard family (Brassicaceae), many......
Brassicaceae, the mustard family of flowering plants (order Brassicales), composed of 338 genera and some 3,700......
Brassicales, order of flowering plants that includes cabbages and capers, as well as mignonette, mustard, and nasturtiums.......
Alexander Braun was the chief botanist of the “nature philosophy” school, a doctrine attempting to explain natural......
bread palm, any of about 65 species of Encephalartos, cycads (family Zamiaceae) native to Africa. The name is derived......
breadfruit, (Artocarpus altilis), tree of the mulberry family (Moraceae) and its large fruits that are a staple......
breadnut, (Brosimum alicastrum), prolific tree of the family Moraceae and its edible seeds. The plant is found......
brier, term generally applied to any plant with a woody and thorny or prickly stem, such as those of the genera......
Brisbane box, (Tristania conferta), evergreen tree, of the family Myrtaceae, native to Australia and commonly cultivated......
bristlecone pine, (species Pinus longaeva and P. aristata), either of two species of small pine trees that belong......
broad bean, (Vicia faba), species of legume (family Fabaceae) widely cultivated for its edible seeds. The broad......
broccoli, form of cabbage, of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), grown for its edible flower buds and stalk. Native......
bromegrass, (genus Bromus), genus of approximately 160 annual and perennial grasses in the family Poaceae, found......
Bromeliaceae, the pineapple family of the flowering plants (order Poales), with more than 3,000 species across......
Adolphe-Théodore Brongniart was a French botanist whose classification of fossil plants, which drew surprisingly......
Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Arboretum, botanical garden founded in 1911 in Brooklyn, N.Y., municipally owned and......
broom, (genus Cytisus), genus of several shrubs or small trees of the pea family (Fabaceae), native to temperate......
broom moss, (Dicranum scoparium), the most common species of the wind-blown moss genus Dicranum. This species occurs......
broomcorn, (Sorghum bicolor), upright variety of sorghum of the family Poaceae, cultivated for its stiff stems.......
broomrape, (genus Orobanche), genus of about 150 species of parasitic annual or perennial herbs (family Orobanchaceae).......
brown mustard, (Brassica juncea), herbaceous plant of the family Brassicaceae grown primarily for its pungent seeds,......
Robert Brown was a Scottish botanist best known for his descriptions of cell nuclei and of the continuous motion......
Bruniaceae, family of shrubby evergreen plants, comprising 12 genera native to southern Africa, many resembling......
Brunonia, a genus in the family Goodeniaceae, containing one species (Brunonia australis) native to Australia and......
Brussels sprouts, (Brassica oleracea, variety gemmifera), form of cabbage, belonging to the mustard family Brassicaceae,......
bryony, (genus Bryonia), genus of about 12 species of climbing herbaceous vines in the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae).......
bryophyte, traditional name for any nonvascular seedless plant—namely, any of the mosses (division Bryophyta),......
bucket orchid, (genus Coryanthes), genus of about 42 species of epiphytic orchids (family Orchidaceae), noted for......
buckeye, any of about six species of North American trees and shrubs in the genus Aesculus of the soapberry family......
buckthorn, any of about 100 species of shrubs or trees belonging to the genus Rhamnus, family Rhamnaceae, native......
buckwheat, (Fagopyrum esculentum), herbaceous plant of the family Polygonaceae and its edible seeds. Buckwheat......
buckwheat tree, (Cliftonia monophylla), evergreen shrub or small tree of the family Cyrillaceae, native to southern......
buffalo berry, (Shepherdia argentea), hardy flowering shrub of the oleaster family (Elaeagnaceae), growing wild......
buffalo bur, (Solanum rostratum), plant of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), native to high plains east of the......
buffalo grass, (Bouteloua dactyloides), perennial western North American grass of the family Poaceae. Buffalo grass......
bugbane, any of about 15 species of tall perennial herb constituting the genus Cimicifuga of the buttercup family......
bugleweed, (genus Ajuga), genus of about 40 species of Eurasian plants of the mint family (Lamiaceae). Bugleweeds......
bugloss, any plant of the genera Anchusa, Echium, and Pentaglottis of the family Boraginaceae. Bugloss plants are......
Bulbophyllum, one of the largest genera of orchids (family Orchidaceae), composed of more than 2,000 species of......
bulrush, Any of the annual or perennial grasslike plants constituting the genus Scirpus, especially S. lacustris,......
bunchberry, (Cornus canadensis), creeping perennial herb of the dogwood family (Cornaceae). The small and inconspicuous......
bunya pine, (Araucaria bidwillii), large evergreen conifer of the family Araucariaceae, native to humid areas in......
bur cucumber, (genus Sicyos), genus of about 60 species of prostrate or climbing vines in the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae).......
bur oak, (Quercus macrocarpa), North American timber tree belonging to the white oak group of the genus Quercus......
Luther Burbank was an American plant breeder whose prodigious production of useful varieties of fruits, flowers,......
burdock, (genus Arctium), a genus of biennial plants in the Asteraceae family, bearing globular flower heads with......
burhead, (genus Echinodorus), genus of some 28 species of annual or perennial herbs of the family Alismataceae,......
burnet, (genus Sanguisorba), genus of about 35 species of perennial herbs in the rose family (Rosaceae), native......
burning bush, any of several plants so called for their striking fall foliage, brilliant flower display, or emission......
burro-fat, (species Cleome isomeris), shrub or small tree of the Cleome genus (of the family Cleomaceae, which......
Burseraceae, family of flowering plants in the order Sapindales, composed of about 19 genera and 775–860 species......
bush honeysuckle, (genus Diervilla), genus of three species of low shrubs belonging to the family Caprifoliaceae......
butcher’s broom, any dark green shrub of the genus Ruscus of the family Ruscaceae, native to Eurasia. The plants......
butter-and-eggs, (Linaria vulgaris), perennial herbaceous plant of the Plantaginaceae family, native to Eurasia.......
buttercup, (genus Ranunculus), genus of about 300 species of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae.......
butterfly bush, (genus Buddleja), any of more than 100 species of plants constituting the genus Buddleja (family......
butterfly orchid, common name of several orchid species, especially those of the genera Psychopsis and Platanthera.......
butterfly weed, (Asclepias tuberosa), North American plant of the dogbane family (Apocynaceae), a stout rough-haired......
butternut, (Juglans cinerea), deciduous nut-producing tree of the walnut family (Juglandaceae), native to eastern......
buttonbush, (genus Cephalanthus), genus of at least six species of shrubs or small trees of the madder family (Rubiaceae)......
Buxales, the boxwood order of dicotyledonous flowering plants, comprising Buxaceae (90–120 species in five genera)......
cabbage, (Brassica oleracea), vegetable and fodder plant of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), the various agricultural......
cacao, (Theobroma cacao), tropical evergreen tree (family Malvaceae) grown for its edible seeds, whose scientific......
cactus, (family Cactaceae), flowering plant family (order Caryophyllales) with nearly 2,000 species and 139 genera.......
calabash tree, (Crescentia cujete), tree of the family Bignoniaceae that grows in parts of Africa, Central and......
calabazilla, (Cucurbita foetidissima), perennial prostrate vine of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), native to......
caladium, (genus Caladium), genus of about 14 species of tuberous herbaceous plants in the arum family (Araceae)......
Calamites, genus of tree-sized, spore-bearing plants that lived during the Carboniferous and Permian periods (about......
Calanthe, genus of about 200 species of terrestrial orchids (family Orchidaceae). The plants are mostly native......
calendula, (genus Calendula), small genus of 15–20 species of herbaceous plants (family Asteraceae) found in temperate......
California laurel, (Umbellularia californica), aromatic evergreen tree of the laurel family (Lauraceae). It occurs......
California nutmeg, (Torreya californica), ornamental evergreen conifer of the yew family (Taxaceae), found naturally......